Many of you have already received the news of Pastor Mark's retirement. If not, please click to read letters from him and our Council President.
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Wear red this Sunday to celebrate Pentecost!
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Noisy Offering this Sunday!
In just over a month, 14 Youth are headed to the ELCA Gathering in Houston. Every Gathering sponsors an in-kind offering. For Houston, our in-kind offering is BOOKS! May's Noisy Offering is for the
2018 Gathering's Blast Off For Books
program. Using the money we collect, we will purchase books selected by the Houston Independent School District for Pre-K to 6th Grade students and ship them straight to Houston.
We have chosen this in-kind offering because building a foundation of literacy starts before entering Kindergarten. Students who read at home become strong writers, critical thinkers, and more successful students than those who do not. Houston Independent School District estimates that 74% of the students in the district come from
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families who struggle to provide books for their children. This means the students begin each school year at a disadvantage. In joining the Gathering’s Blast Off for Books campaign, we will help ensure bright futures for Houston’s students. The books we donate will be distributed at community book fairs, camps and other events around the city as part of the Gathering’s Service Learning experience. Thank you for your generosity!
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Join us TONIGHT, May 17 for the last gathering of Pub Theology for the program year.
We will meet at
The Casual Pint
at 7:30PM, located at
1863 Hendersonville Rd, Suite 145
(in the Skyland Ingles Shopping Center). Even if you have never attended before, we invite you to join us for a refreshing beverage (wine and non-alcoholic options are available as well as food) and great discussion. We will resume our gatherings in the Fall. Hope to see you!
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GATHERING FUNDRAISER:
Natvity-Tees!!
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Order a Nativity T-shirt - a
Nativi-Tee
and support the ELCA Youth Gathering group! These Nativi-Tees were designed by the Gathering group and feature a Luther Rose woodcut design on the front. The images are in black, on a light blue short-sleeve shirt. Shirts will be available for order in the Fellowship Hall May 20, and 27th, and you may pay in advance or upon arrival. Shirts are $15 each and are available in Youth XS-XL and Adult S-4XL.
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Thank you
for your
support!
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T H A N K Y O U !
This Sunday is our last day of Faith Formation for this school year. Thank you to everyone who has participated in Faith Formation this year - it has been a great time of learning together. A special thanks to all those who taught classes:
Laura McCall, Liz Teall-Fleming, Laura Baylor, Colleen Dieterly, Kirsten Cooper, Stacey Zabel, Mandy Horetski, Debbie McGinnis, Wes McCall, Pastor Gregg, Pastor Mark, Dennis Teall-Fleming, Nancy Curtis, Brian Asbill, and Renee Park
. We appreciate your leadership in ministry!
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3rd grade Bible milestone
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On Sunday we
will present our 3rd graders with their own copy of God's Word to read and study. On Wednesday, we met to learn about the Bible - what chapters and verses are, where to find the Old and New Testament, and more! We pray that they will learn and grow in faith through Scripture. We celebrate with them at this step on their faith journey!
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CONGREGATIONAL ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT
AND VICE PRESIDENT:
SUNDAY, MAY 20
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Sarah and her husband Brian have been members of Nativity since 2008 and both of her children - Henry and Jacob - were baptized here. She has served as scheduler for the crucifers and acolytes for the past 6 years and has also served on the Mutual Ministry Committee. The whole family enjoys volunteering at the Welcome Table and serving as ushers at Nativity. Sarah practices medicine as a General Internist with Carolina Internal Medicine Associates and in her spare time, tutors math and runs the Math Counts program at her younger son's school.
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Vice President:
Michael Neal
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Michael would welcome the opportunity to serve as Vice President of Congregation Council.
He has been a member of Nativity since 1996 and have been an active part of Nativity's history. He has previously served as Secretary of our Congregation Council. He currently coordinates the ushers for the late service and volunteers at Calvary Food Pantry regularly. In previous years, he has taught Kindergarten, middle school, and an adult series on Sunday mornings at Nativity.
Professionally, he is a Sr. Financial Services Officer with State Employees' Credit Union where he has served for 6 1/2 years. Prior to that he taught in public and private schools for 15 years.
"Over the years, I have seen Nativity grow, rejoice and face challenges together. Yet in all of those times, Making Christ Known through our hearts and hands has always been central. As Vice President, it is my prayer that I can be a good steward of the office and serve our congregation in our mission."
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VBS VOLUNTEERS - BE PART OF THE FUN!
On Sunday, several of our Youth stood up and shared what they loved about being VBS volunteers last year. Jack enjoyed helping to lead outdoor games and doing crafts with the kids. Abbie loved seeing the kids grow in faith together, and liked getting to build the creative snacks with them. Karsten's favorite part was seeing the kids
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engaged in age-appropriate ways, so that they could learn at their own level.
These three Youth invite you to be a part of this year's VBS!
Click here to sign up to be part of a great week of Shipwrecked: Rescued by Jesus. There are lots of different ways to be a part of VBS; if you have questions, talk to
Pr. Rachel
. Thanks!
VBS PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION OPENS MONDAY, MAY 21!
Last summer, over 50 kids spent a week together in faith, fun, and friendship. Be part of this year's VBS adventure, July 9th-13th, where we will be Shipwrecked: Rescued By Jesus!
Keep an eye out for a special e-news on Monday!
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Our Young Youth & Youth End of Year Party
is this
Sunday,
May 20th
! We will all gather at the
Hammack
house (
6 Stone Creek Rd., Fletcher, 28732
)
from
2-4pm
for outdoor games and fun. Pr. Rachel will bring ice cream, and you're invited to
bring your favorite topping to share for sundaes
! Consider also bringing a folding/tailgating chair and wearing some sunscreen. *
If it rains, we will have the party at church in the Fellowship Hall. If that is the case, Pr. Rachel will announce that change in worship and on the Youth Facebook page
.* Thanks to the
Hammacks
for hosting!
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Youth
Sunday
was held on May 13th.
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NATIVITY PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN BOARD,
as a Thrivent action team, invites you to honor
Janine Webb
and our wonderful school. A food drive for Calvary Episcopal Food Pantry will be held from here at Nativity
May 11 through May 22
.
This summer, many children may be in need of meals that are usually provided at school, so food pantries, such as Calvary are the source for some of these meals. To help fill this need, we are asking you to help. Please bring canned goods and especially foods that hungry children may need this summer when not being fed at school. Overload our grocery carts. Volunteers will deliver the food to Calvary at the end of this fundraising event.
Thanks to Thrivent, we were able to honor
Janine
as she is ending her tenure at the preschool, by kicking off a pre-event with an end of the year picnic for preschool and kindergarten families to honor her six years of service to the families of Nativity Preschool and Kindergarten.
Thank Janine with a card or letter, a hug and a huge thank you for her service to the families of the school and for her excellent leadership to the school and to the church. Thank her by opening your heart and your pantry to fill the shelves at Calvary Episcopal Food Pantry. Fill the carts with food to fill the tummies of hungry children.
"If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength that God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ."
-1 Peter 4:11
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Calvary Food Pantry is Expanding!
Calvary Food Pantry is excited to announce that they are embarking on a
building project!
With the volume of clients coming through each Saturday, the time has come to expand this ministry into a new building. But first, that new building must be built. CFP is starting their building campaign, and they'd like to tell you more about it. They will be hosting a Campaign Kickoff on
Sunday, June 3rd
, from 3-5pm at Calvary Episcopal Church. You are invited to join them for an afternoon of food and refreshments, as well as an informational program about the future of CFP (there will be no solicitation at this event). To learn more about this event, and to RSVP, please click on this
letter
.
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Calvary Food Pantry
welcomes your participation in feeding our neighbors.
Nativity's joyful crew helps clients the first and second Saturday mornings of the month with check in, shopping assistance, and carrying out groceries. Thank you for gifts of food and hygiene products in the cart and gifts of treasure through the offering. If you know someone in need, help spread the word: CFP is open every Saturday 8:30-11 a.m. In addition to staples, eggs, produce, milk, baked goods, meat, and bread are available. Love and compassion abound. If you'd like to be part of this ministry, sign up at the Welcome Desk or click
here
. Questions? Contact
Heather Neal
(658-9309 or neal.heather@rocketmail.com) or
Pr. Rachel
.
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G I V I N G
Update
Your faithful giving contributes
to our mission of
Making Christ Known
.
_______________________________
For the month of April
Budgeted to receive: $46,268
Actual received: $44,405
Budgeted to spend: $47,212
Actual spent: $44,570
To see the Treasurer's report for the month of
April
,
click here
.
Thank you for your support
of the ministry we share!
If you have any questions, please contact our Financial Secretary,
Carrie Dahlberg, by clicking
here
.
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COVER STORY
Mercy and addiction.
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LADIES LUNCH BUNCH
will meet on Thursday, May 24 at 1pm at Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse in Biltmore Village (2 Hendersonville Rd).
Susan Montella
is the hostess for the event. If you are interested in attending, please contact her at
(828)713-2194.
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Congratulations to
Brooke and William Styles (and big sister
Emory and big brother
Archer)
upon the birth of
Scarlett Elizabeth!
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+ nativity book group
The book for June is
The Broken Road
by Richard Evans. The next meeting will be held on
Thursday, June 21 from 2pm - 3:30pm
.
All are welcome. You don't need to come every month, just when you are able. For a full list of books and their descriptions click
here
.
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Scripture Readings beginning May 20
This weekly devotional handout is available on the Welcome Desk. "Taking Faith Home" is a production of Milestones Ministry, LLC, and is created by a team lead by an ELCA Pastor.
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A Sacred Reflection
- Saturday, June 9, 2018
- 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
- St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Asheville
A Sacred Reflection
features performances by Asheville local concert pianist, Alex Watson. This concert will seek to benefit veterans services and future music projects. All are welcome, suggested $10 donation, no need for advance tickets, and free parking.
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Lutheran Church of the Nativity
2425 Hendersonville Rd. | P. O. Box 208
Arden, North Carolina 28704
www. nativityarden.org | 828.684.0352
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